An advocate for the Tri-Cities’ homeless population says municipal bans on public drug use in parks will put people at greater risk of overdoses and even death.
Keir Macdonald, the co-chair of the Tri-City Homelessness and Housing Task Force, said a recent decision by Port Coquitlam council to ban the use of opioids in that city’s parks and playgrounds will push users who have nowhere else to go further into the shadows, where they could die alone and out of sight if something goes wrong.
Port Moody is considering a similar ban.
In a notice of motion to be presented to council at its meeting Tuesday (July 25), Coun. Kyla Knowles said it’s “incumbent upon us as local government to provide safe, clean and peaceful recreation spaces to our residents” in light of the provincial government’s decision last January to decriminalize the possession use of some illicit drugs in public spaces, except schools and daycares. In May, Premier David Eby said he'd work with municipalities to ensure they could stay safe.
But, Macdonald said, enacting such bans without accompanying support services for drug users is a recipe for making the province’s drug crisis even worse.
“No one wants to see drug use in parks,” Macdonald told The Tri-City News. “But you want to advocate to provide solutions so they’re not at greater risk.”
Macdonald said with no overdose prevention site currently in the Tri-Cities, and only one shelter for the homeless, kicking drug users from public spaces like parks will send them deep into the bushes or back alleys.
“People are safer using with other people, whether it’s in public or with someone in a private location.”
Knowles said she’s “heard clearly from Port Moody residents that they are disappointed at the lack of planning and consideration given to municipalities and public safety before decriminalization was introduced.”
Knowles said bylaw officers should have the ability to address the open use of drugs in public parks and playgrounds, though not possession of those drugs. She said enforcement could include removal of users from those spaces, banning them or calling police.
Macdonald, a Port Moody resident himself, said instead of enacting bans, cities should be taking a more compassionate approach to the problem of open drug use by working with public health officials to connect users to the services they require.
“What message does it send to people who have nowhere else to go?” he said.
In her report, Knowles noted other communities that have recently banned drug use in public spaces, or are considering such a measure include Kamloops, Pentiction, Prince George, Kelowna and Campbell River.
She suggested council could also consider extending a ban to include recreation centres.
